Microsoft launches React Code Apps for Power Platform developers
Microsoft has introduced Code Apps, a new type of Power Apps separate from familiar canvas and model-driven options. These let developers write React and TypeScript code directly in Visual Studio Code, using the Power Platform CLI for builds and deployment. They connect to Dataverse or SharePoint data sources and include AI assistance from tools like GitHub Copilot. Enterprise features cover conditional access and role-based security. But they demand premium Power Apps licensing and pro-code setup, skipping low-code entirely.
Citizen developers relied on canvas apps to build quick internal tools with SharePoint lists and basic formulas like Patch or Filter, despite frustrations with manual layouts and delegation warnings. Model-driven apps handled structured data but stayed low-code too. Code Apps now hand programmers modern React tools and AI coding aids, signalling Microsoft's shift toward pro-code for complex enterprise needs. This leaves canvas builders without promised fixes for responsive design or faster galleries, forcing a choice between sticking with imperfect low-code or learning full development.
Analysis
Code Apps look flashy but they sideline your canvas struggles with SharePoint galleries and pixel-perfect forms – this is pro-dev territory, not your path to team-adopted apps. Microsoft just admitted low-code canvas needs help by building a code alternative. Build a reusable navigation component in your current app today; copy it to every screen and slash layout time without touching code.
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